Pressure-regulating device



F. H; HOPKINS. PRESSURE REGULATINQ DEVICE.

APPLICATIdN FILED SEPT. 13. I915- v1,305,365 Patented June 3, 1919 2 SHEETSSHEET I.

IN \/E NTEIIFE F. H-. HOPKINS. PRESSURE REGULATING DEVICE. 'APPLI CAT|0N FILED SEPT. I3. I915;

Patented June 3, 1919..

SHEETS-SHEET 2.

as 5 w M5- v fiTTTIIFKNEyS UNITED STATES PATENT onnrcn.

rmx 11 norxm's, or SOMEBVILLE, mnssncnusnrrs, nssmnon 'ro mnarcnn s'rnm GAUGE a VALVE mumcrcmnc QOMPANY,- or nos'ron, mnssncnusame, A conronnnon or msacnusn'r'rs.

PBESSUBE-BEGULATING- DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern? Be it known that 1,.FRANK H." HOPKINS, of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pressure-Regulating Devices, of which the following is a spec1fication.-

The resent invention relates to pressure regulatmpj devices adapted to receive a fluid under pressure and to deliver the same at a lower pressure, which may be either a definite or a variable pressure, according to the service to be performed by the delivered fluid. The general object of the invention is.

to' provide an apparatus of the sort indicated which shall be of the simplest construction and at the same time of great efliciency, with the least liability to derangement. More specifically, m 0 ect has been to provide a pressure regu ator which may be used as a governor vfora steam pump or compressor, controlled by the pressure of vapor, gas, or liquid, for whatever use in-.

the liquid or other fluid delivered by the pump, and equipped with an emergency stop operative to cause the overnor to shut off entirely the steam or ot er workin fluid in case of breakage or a leak in the ine sup} plied by the pump; and to realize in such a governor the general objects above set forth.

While the invention is particularly adapted to the s ecific purpose above stated, it is notlimi to that=purpose orruse, but is applicable to any'use which requires a regulated reduction in pressure of any fluid,

- whether such fluid be steam to be utilized in driving a motor or otherwise, or any other tended, and therefore I do not limit the inyention to a governor for steam pumps.

The invention consists in the means for accoi'n lishing the fore oin objects describe and-set forth in t e fcfilowing speci fication and (claims, and in all the modifications and equivalents thereof which contain the principles and have essentially the mode of operation ofthe particular means therein I setforth. 1 In the drawings forming a part of this applicatioml have showri four. s ecific constructions embpdying the'princip es of my invention, intendingthereb to indit t0 someextent the scope t e inven- Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedJune 3, 1919.

Application filed September 18, 1915. fierial No. 50,588.

such constructions, or in any other manner than as indicated by the express terms of the claims. g

Figure 1 of these drawings shows in longitudinal section one specific embodiment of the invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show similarly a second, third and fourth form or construction respectively containing the same principles and equivalent elements; and

Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically the mode of application of thegovernor to a steam pump.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all figures.

Referring first to Fig. 1, 10 represents a valve casing havin openings 11 and. 12 adapted for connectlon'with pipes or other fittings through which fluid may flow. For the purposes of this description it may be assumed that the passage 11 is the inlet and 12 the outlet for t e steam or other fluid, although the description of these passages may be reversed and the steam considered to fiowin the opposite direction. In the valve cas-. ingkis a balanced valve comprising two valve dis s13 and 14 which are connectedto a stem 15 and are adapted to coactwith seats 16 and 17 respectively. So far as this feature of the apparatus is concerned the construction may be that of any balanced valve. It is not strictly necessary, however, that the valve should be a balanced one, but this type is preferred on account of the fact that it ma be more-easily and accurately regulated. A y-pass 18' is provided between the valve seats and opens into the internal chamber of the valve casing in communication with the of which the stem 20 passes through a stuff- Mini box 21 in the side of the valve casing is; provided with a hand wheel' 22- for manual operation. This valveis normally considerabledistance'from the latter and 4 outlet. This by-pass is covered by a valve 19 ump or otherjmotor driven by fluid r ing box 23lin'the topof the valve casing to a has secured upon its end a piston provided with a packing washer 26 which fits the walls of a chamber 27 formed in a structure which is'mounted on the valve casing. The piston and packing Washer are secured by' a nut 28 screwed upon the end of the valve stem.

The structure in which the chamber 27 is formed comprises a frame 28- attached to the I valve casing'lO, and a tube 29 secured upon the upper end of the frame 28?. The latter has an end wall 30 through which is threaded a bushing 31. The valve stem passes through the bushing and is guided thereby and the bushing also serves as a means for adjusting the tension of a spring 32 which surrounds the valve stem, pressing against a shoulder 33 on the piston 25 and reacting against a a thimble 34 which rests on the end of bushing 31. Spring 32 tends to raise the valve, that is to unseat it and the threaded bushing 31 serves to regulate the force with which the spring thus acts.

In using theterms frame and cylinder to describe the parts 28 and 29 I have not intended to imply that such parts must be of any particular construction and form. 1 The function of these parts is to provlde and support a chamber such as the chamber 27, to guide the valve stem and to provide an adjustable abutment for the spring 32: Any structural parts capable of serving. these purposes ma be used instead of the specific -parts here s own.

Attached to the upper end of the tube 29 is a guide or frame member 35 of which the endis open and in communication with the chamber 27 and of cylindrical form. In this open end is fitted a piston 36 on the stem 37,

the piston being packed 'by a washer 38- which issecured by a nut 39 screwed upon the stem 37. This stem ,passes into a cavity in athimble 40 which is threaded and passes, through the end wall 41 of the part 35 engaging with threads in the latter. A spring 42 surrounds the'stem 37 and bears on piston 36 reacting against a collars v 43 which abuts against the thimble 40. The tendency of the spring 42 is topress the piston 36 downward, that is, in the opposite direction/to that in which the piston 25 is pressed by the spring 32. The tension of spring 42 may regulated by adjusting the thimble40, the adj ustmentsof which are made secure by a lock nut 44 screwed upon the same. A stop shoulder 45 is provided within member 35 to limit the. extent to which piston 36 may be raised. I

It will be, noted that the piston is arranged to bear against the valve stem 15 (through the nuts 39 and 28), whereby the spring 42 tends to close the valve; and also that the area of this piston is greater than the area of piston 25. The tension of spring 42 is adjusted to balance spring 32 when the when no fluid pressure conducting steam to the regulator, and 50,

represents the pipe leading from the regulator to the valve chest of the pump. 51 is a branch connection leading from the delivery pipe 48 of the pump to the chamber 27 of the regulator. This pipe is also indicated in Fig. l as leading to a port 52 which opens into the chamber 27.

The operation of the regulator or governor will now be understood. When the pump is not in operation and there is no pressure in the dehvery line 48, the parts of the governor assume the position shown in Fig. 1 and the main valve is closed. The pump may be started by opening the by-pass valve 19 which allows steam to flow to the pump. As soon as the pump has developed pressure in the line 48, such pressure is transmitted through the branch 51 to the chamber 27. Both piston 25 and 36 are exposed to this pressure and the piston 36 is raised against the resistance of the spring 42 until it abuts against the stop shoulder 45. Thereby the pressure of spring 42 tending to close the main valve is taken away from the valve stem 15 and the spring 32 is enabled to open the valve against the pressure of the fluid acting on the piston 25, until such pressure balances the spring. A condition of equilibrium is then established in which the piston 25 is enabled to act as a governor for the pump, being raised by the spring to open the steam valve more widely when the fluid pressure acting on the piston is decreased by 7 f If the delivery line from the pump should burst or leak so that the pressure therein is greatly dimlnished, the piston 36 is no longer supported against the spring 42, but is depressed by the spring into contact with the nut 28 and closes the steam valve, causing the pump to be stopped. Piston 36 is an emergency stop or look which is held out of the way when the system i s in working order, allowing the governor piston to operate without interference, but coming into escape if the emergency stop were not there.

Adjustment of the tension of spring 4-2 in connection with the area of piston 36 determines the pressure to which the fluid delivered by the pump, or the fluid passing the main valve when the latter is used as a reducing valve, may be reduced before the emergency stop will come into action.

In analyzin the rinciples involved in the apparatus, it will seen that essentially the pistons 25 and 36 are movable walls forming parts of a chamber or chambers to which the pressure developed bythe pump is conducted, such walls being displaceable by such pressure. The piston 36 is also a lock for the regulating or governing piston 25 which is adapted to be made inoperative by the pressure of the pum when such pressure. is within the normal imits, and to become operative when such pressure is less than the lowest limit of normal operation.

It is not essential that the pistons 25 and 36- should be arranged in proximity to one another or that both should be in the same chamber. Fig. 2 illustrates an arrangement in which corresponding pistons are in dif-' ferent chambers remote from each other although in line. In the latter figure a modi-- j stop piston 36 and provided with a head 52 which is contained in a recess 53 in the pisten 36 and is'overlaid by a flange 54 in the form of an annular nut screwed into the end of the recess 53. Such recess is enough deeper than the head 52 to allow a suificient amount of lost motion of the valve stem relatively to the piston. The chambers 27 and 271 are in communication through the.

Fig. 1, but distinguished by the exponent ing fluid issupplied to the pump. The lost motion permitted by the cavity 53 allows the piston 25 with the valve stems to move back and forth Within the required limits. When the pressure in the delivery pipe drops below the lowest predetermined limit, piston 36* is depressed by its spring and the flange 54 bears on the head 52 to draw down the valve stem and close the steam valve.

Flg. 3 shows a further modification which differs from the construction previously described in that the chamber for theemergency look, here designated 272, is placed at one side of the casing or frame 29 in which the pressure chamber 27" containing the ton is connected with an arm 56 which is pivoted on a stud 57 at the side of the frame 29 and crosses the valve stem 15 directly above a head 58 on the latter which is provided with a knife edge bearing 59'. When the emergency lock plston is depressed by its spring 42 the arm 56 is pressed down against the head 58 and exerts pressure on the main valve which closes the latter. The leverage through which piston 36 and spring 42' act upon the valve is a factor hav-' ing the same effect as the difference in area of the pistons in the previouslydescribed forms of the device, to permit release of the .emergency stop by fluid pressure of less intensity than required to seat the valve byactingdirectly on piston 28. An increase of area in the stop pistonover the governing piston, with a spring to correspond, may, however, be employed at the same time.

In each form of the invention heretofore described, the members which are directly acted upon by the pressure developed in the pump, and constitute positive movable walls of a pressure chamber or chambers, are pistons. It is not essential, however, that pistons be employed for that purpose, for diaphragms and other equivalent mechanical elements may be as well used for the same purpose and with-the same ultimate effect. Fig. 4 is here presented to illustrate theuse of diaphragms for serving the purposes of the pistons hereinbefore described.' In the latter figure 25 and 36 represent metaldiaphragms which form the movable bounding walls of the pressure chamber 27 and corre-fl s ponding generally to the pistons 25 and 36;

Fig. 1; diaphragm 6being of larger area than diaphragm 25". Springs 32 and 42 are arranged and act in essentially the same manner as the" springs 32 and 42 of Fig. 1..-'

They are also-adjustable inessentially the same manner by the adjusting screws 31 necessary for some purposes.

and 40 respectively; A block 60 is arranged between the diaphragms, being made fast to one of them and resting loosely against the other. In the construction shown the block is made fast to the diaphragm 36.

Diaphragm 25 is the governing member of the apparatus which acts, however, not directly upon the main valve 14, but indirectly through a pilot valve, for the reason that the movement of the diaphragm may not be sufficient to give as long a travel by direct connection with the steam valve as is Accordingly the diaphragm 25 is connected to a valve stem 61 which passes through a stufling box 62 and carries a valve 63. adapted to open and close a port 64 in a block 65 which forms the head of a steam chamber 66. Steam flows from the'inlet'11 through a by-pass 67 to the space on the outer side of head 65 and thence through the port 64, when the valve 63 is open, into the chamber 66. A

piston 67* in the latter is connected to the valve stem 15 of the main valve 14. It will be evident from the drawing that with the arrangement here shown the steam admitted to chamber 66 acts to open the valve 14. To this valve is connected a damping piston 68 working in a dash pot chamber 69 which contains a fluid sufficiently viscous to retard the movements of the valve. A spring 70 presses against the valve in the direction which tends to close it and reacts against a perforated plate 71 which overlies the upper end of the dash pot chamber 69.

The operation of this form of the invention is essentially the same as that already described, the diaphragm 36 being displaced by the pressure developed by the pump until it is arrested by the shoulder 45 formed in the thimble 35. This displacement of the diaphragm frees the other diaphragm 25 which is then permitted to rise under the pressure of spring 32 opening the pilot valve 63 and admitting steam to chamber 66 to open the main' valve 14.

When the pressure in chamber 27 overcomes spring 32 and the pilot valve is wholly or partly closed, thereby shutting off the steam acting on piston 67 to a greater or less extent and allowing the spring 70 to wholly or partially close the main valve. As the piston 67 is not packed, and is made to slide freely in the cylinder 66, a certain amount of leakage of steam past the piston" is permitted. This leakage is not very great and is not enough to affect the action when steam is allowed to pass through the port 64, but it is enough to permit equalization of pressures on opposite sides of the piston when the pilot valve is entirely closed, .so that the main valve may be closed, and also to permit partial closing of the main valve when the admission of steam through the port 6-1 is reduced. In case the pressure in exemplified in Fig. 4 and consisting of the arrangement of a pilot valve for governing the main valve is not specifically claimed herein, but is made the subject of a separate application filed by me.

In the foregoing description I have assumed the position of the governor as being upright and have used descriptive terms .accordingly. Such terms so far as they indicate direction with respect to the horizon are not to be consideredas limitations in any sense. The instrument does not depend to any degree upon gravity, but upon fluid pressures and springs for its operation and .is therefore operative in any position whether vertical or horizontal or inverted or otherwise. Accordingly all terms herein used indicating direction are to be considered as relating, simply to the showing of the apparatus in the present drawings.

I have not intended, by describing the manner of employment, of my apparatus as a governor for steam pumps, to limit the scope of the invention; in any Way. The main valve of the apparatus is essentially a throttle valve or reducing valve, and may be used as such in any situation where a reduction in pressure of fluid is required for any purpose. The pilot valve shown in Fig. 4 is also reducing valve, which corresponds with the main valve in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The fluid under pressure for governing the reducing valve may be either that issuing from the valve, or another fluid. as in the case of a steam plmp here described; in either case the pressure of the governing fluid bears a. direct relation and is in direct proportion to the pressure of the fluid passing the regulating valve.

I am aware of patent numbered 1,077,090 to Robert B. McGowan granted October 28, 1913, for a pump governor. I do not claim as my invention the emergency stop suggested in said patent, but my claim of intermined degree. 5. A pressure regulating .apparatus comchange its sums to which the governor is exposed, and a locking means exposed to the pres ureacting on the governor and adaptedto close said valve but normally held bv 'such pressure out'of the valve'closing position.

2. A pressure regulating apparatus comprising a ressureregulatmg valve, a pressure cham er outside of said valve having two j opposed movable walls, one of sai walls being of greater area than the other, springs acting upon said walls tending to move each toward the other and in op o'- sition to the force exerted on the respectlve walls by fluid ressure insaid pressure chamber, the wal of smaller area being a governor and being adapted to cause the opening and closing of the valve in accordance with itsposition.

3. A pressure regulating apparatus comprising-a valve, a governor for the valve exposed to fluid pressure and adapted to fluctuations in such pressure, means for causing displacement of the valve corresponding to those of the governor, and a locking device or emergency sto arranged to act upon said governor an hold the same in t e position assumed when the valve is closed, said emergency sto being displaceable by the controlling uid pressure and being normally held thereby out of connection with the governor whereby the latter is normally free to act in the designed manner without interference.

4:. Ay'pressure regulator comprising a regulating valve havin a stem, a pressure chamber outside of sald valve containing a regulating pressure, one of the walls of said chamber being movable and being connected to the valve stem, yielding-means acting externally on said movable wall tending to move'the same inwardly, anda normallyl inoperative locln'ng device exposed to t e same regulating ressure and adapted to close the valve w en "the said regulating pressure drops below'a predeprising a valve adapted to permit. a regulated, variable flow of fluid, a chamber exa fluid under ternal to the valve'containin a pressure which is depen ent upon the pressure at which thefluid first mentioned issues 'from the valve said chamber having ,a movable wall, yield ing means tending to cause said valve to 0 en, means whereby tends to cause the valve to close when movedby the fluid pressureactin thereon,a stop acted u on by the same uid ressure and norma y r g;- .dered inoperative when such p e ure is.

greater than a given amount, and means for causingsaid stop to close the .valve when such pressure diminishes belowl' sition in accordance withprising is permitted. r

10..-A- pressure regulating apparatus com-' 6. A pressure regulating apparatus comprising a valve casing havin an inlet and an outlet, a valve. arrange between the said 'inlet and outlet .adapted to regulate the flow of fluid and the pressure at which the fluid issues from said outlet, a movable governing member connectedto the valve and exposed to a fluid pressure theintensity of which is aflected by the pressure of the fluid issuing from the valve, a spring acting on said governing member in oppoprising a valve, apressure controlled gov- .ernor for shifting said valve to enlarge or restrict the passage controlled thereby, and aressure controlled device additional to an separate from said governor for closing the valve when the controlling pres-- sure becomes of less than a. given intensity.

8. A pressure regulating apparatus comprising a valve, a displa able stop yieldingl urged to close said valve, separate yiel ing means tending to open the valve, a governor connected with the valve and exposed to fluid pressure acting in opposition to said yielding means, and means for causing the said ressure to displace flu'd said stopout of thglva ve closing: position.

9. A pressure're lating apparatus coma valve, a stop constantly urged in a yiel ing mannerto engage and hold the valve in-closed position, a governor pressed in one direction by fluid pressure against yieldin resistance and arranged to govern the vs. vs so as to enlarge or restrict the passa controlled thereby, and means where opening of the valve, and movement thereof,

prising a valve, a seat with which said valve coeperates, a stem connected to the valve, a controlling piston secured to said stem forming one wall of a chamber containing fluid under pressure, a sprin said; {piston =oppositelyto -.t a pressure ly the said fluid pressure is enabled to .disp ace said stop into a position in which acting on thereon of the. fluid, a second piston of greater area thanthe firstpiston acted upon y-the same pressurefluid, and a spring o greaterpower than'the first spring pressingon the second piston oppositely to the pressure; fluidg thef second-piston being arto' hold the va vel in -closed position tensity.

11. A pressure regulating'apparatus comexcept whenythe-press 're of the-governing 'fluidex'ceedsa certain'givenfde'greeofj respectivel different areas exposed to the tion where it closes the valve, and being pressure 0 the same controlling fluid under -displaceable from that position by any pressure, and springs acting on said pispressure of the controlling fluid which is 10 tons in opposition to the pressure of the great enough.to overcome said spring. 5 fluid, the smaller piston being in rigid In testimony whereof I haveafiixed my connection with the valve, and the larger signature. r piston being urged by its spring into a posi- FRANK H. HOPKINS. 

